Suffragists -- United States; Women -- Suffrage -- United States
Representative Elliott of Indiana, Republican, favored the resolution
because—“A little more than four hundred years ago Columbus discovered
America. Before that page of American history was written he was
compelled to seek the advice and assistance of a woman. From that day
until the present day the noble women of America have done their part
in times of peace and of war . . .”
If Queen Isabella was an argument in favor for Mr. Elliott of Indiana,
Lady Macbeth played the opposite part for Mr. Parker of New Jersey,
Republican . . . . “I will not debate the question as to whether in a
time of war women are the best judges of policy. That great student of
human nature, William Shakespeare, in the play of Macbeth, makes Lady
Macbeth eager for deeds of blood until they are committed and war is
begun and then just as eager that it may be stopped.” . . .
Said Mr. Gray of New Jersey, Republican: “A nation will endure just so
long as its men are virile. History, physiology, and psychology all
show that giving woman equal political rights with man makes ultimately
for the deterioration of manhood. It is, therefore, not only because I
want our country to win this war but because I want our nation to
possess the male virility necessary to guarantee its future existence
that I am opposed to the pending amendment.”
The hope was expressed that President Wilson’s conversion would be like
that of St. Paul, “and that he will become a master- worker in the
vineyards of the Lord for this proposition.” (Applause.)
Mr. Gallivan, Democrat, although a representative of Massachusetts,
“the cradle of American liberty,” called upon a great Persian
philosopher to sustain him in his support. “ ‘Dogs bark, but the
caravan moves on.’ . . . Democracy cannot live half free and half
female.”
Mr. Dill of Washington, Democrat, colored his support with the
following tribute: “ . . . It was woman who first learned to prepare
skins of animals for protection from the elements, and tamed and
domesticated the dog and horse and cow. She was a servant and a slave .
. . . To-day she is the peer of man.”
Mr. Little of Kansas, Republican, tried to bring his colleagues back to
a moderate course by interpolating:
“It seems to me, gentlemen, that it is time for us to learn that woman
is neither a slave nor an angel, but a human being, entitled to be
treated with ordinary common sense in the adjustment of human affairs .
. . .”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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